The Philippines: Main suspect in environment lawyer’s killing arrested

Relatives and friends cheered the arrest of the alleged mastermind in the murder of environmental lawyer Mia Mascariñas-Green in February.

Lloyd Lancer Gonzaga had been arrested to face murder and frustrated murder charges in Bohol, raising hopes from the victim’s relatives and friends that justice would finally be served.

“Our attention should now be focused on how justice will finally be rendered,” said Pat Ruiz, one of the organizers of Justice for Atty. Mia Kalinaw sa Bohol Movement.

The group was formed by Green’s family, civil society and religious groups, the academe and members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Bohol chapter to press police to solve Green’s murder and other crimes in Bohol.

After four months in hiding, Gonzaga, 34, a resident of Panglao town in Bohol, was arrested on Friday by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Central Visayas.

The following is a press release from the family of Mia Mascariñas-Green:

The family of Atty. Mia Manuelita C. Mascariñas from Bohol, who was cruelly taken from us on February 15th, 2017 in front of her children, woke up this morning to the solid news that Lloyd Lance Lance Gonzaga was arrested yesterday (June 30th) in an undisclosed place in Davao City.

Initial reports indicate a coordinated PNP manhunt that spanned across the Central Visayas and Mindanao. We were informed that agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7), and CIDG-11 with full support from Camp Crane and the Bohol Provincial Director, Sr. Supt. Felipe Natividad are responsible for this success.

We would like to thank the PNP and the Administration for their tireless efforts to capture this suspect who has been identified by multiple eyewitnesses as being one of two gunman seen at Mia’s murder. We would also like to thank everyone in the general public who came forward and in particular the close relative of the gunman who came forward and shared the location of the suspect.

We look forward to the arrest of the second gunman Romarico Benigian. We also look forward to working with the PNP to ensure the safety of all persons involved in the upcoming hearings and court case that will begin soon.
Zia, Zoe and Eli, the Mascariñas and Green Families, Bohol, Philippines